Georgia's Ford Plantation begins restoration of Pete Dye golf course

RICHMOND HILL, Ga. -- The Ford Plantation, one of the nation's leading residential communities and private sporting clubs, is breaking ground on the restoration of its Pete Dye golf course. The project will be one of the most extensive private course restorations in the country. Acclaimed architects Pete Dye and Tim Liddy are leading the design, which will update the Coastal Georgia course to meet Dye's evolving vision.

"The impetus for this project was to upgrade the infrastructure of the course," said Golf Course Architect Tim Liddy. "However, we then realized this was also the perfect time for a complete restoration that would renew the greens, bunkers and fairway contouring to align with Mr. Dye's vision for course. I am thrilled to work beside Mr. Dye to bring his unique touches back to The Ford Planation golf course."

Restoration work to the infrastructure of the course will improve drainage and add a state-of-the-art irrigation system. The front nine will maintain most of its current footprint; however, landscape changes are being introduced to widen corridors and create long views of the course. Once completed, the challenging back nine will include more bunkering and natural waste areas.

Hole number 13 provides an example of how the "Low Country Links" style back nine will introduce a "high dunes" look and feel. Number 13 is defined as a "Cape Hole," featuring Lake Clara on its right. A clever player can shorten the hole with a solid strike down the right hand side. The bailout left will most likely find the waste area and an uneven line. It will be a classic Pete Dye great risk/reward par four hole upon completion.

Hole 17 will feature a new green site elevated and pushed towards Lake Clara that will provide the player with a panoramic view of the property. The hole will play nearly 220 yards from the back tee to almost 100 yards from the front teeing area. Mr. Dye is also known for his historic number 17 holes: Ocean Course at Kiawah, TPC Sawgrass, Harbour Town Golf Links and Whistling Straits.

The Ford Plantation will be working with MacCurrach Golf Construction of Jacksonville, Fla. to manage the restoration. This will be MacCurrach's ninth Pete Dye project, making them the ideal partner to ensure his vision and design subtleties are brought to life. Course construction begins September 30 and is expected to take a year to complete.

"The end result of the restoration will achieve a number of goals for our community," said C.W. Canfield, The Ford Plantation Director of Golf. "The course will be a more enjoyable and playable surface for all skill levels, with architectural enhancements that welcome and guide players through this outstanding Low Country course. It will also give us the distinct privilege of working alongside Hall of Fame architect Pete Dye as we breathe new life into one of his original course designs."

About The Ford Plantation
One of the nation's leading residential communities and private sporting clubs, The Ford Plantation features 400 home sites nestled on 1,800 breathtaking acres near Savannah, Ga. Located on the site of a former antebellum rice plantation, this majestic waterfront location once captivated the imagination of automobile magnate Henry Ford, who built a historic winter retreat on this lush property in the 1930s.Today, this gated sporting community features a challenging Pete Dye golf course, an on-site day spa, a deep-water marina, world-class equestrian center, organic garden and state-of-the-art fitness center, as well as more than 10 miles of scenic horse, biking and hiking trails.

For additional information about The Ford Plantation, please visit http://fordplantation.com/ or call 912.756.3291.

Old South Golf Links epitomizes the beauty of Carolina Lowcountry golf. The course is now offering three vacation packages that also include rounds at your choice of Hampton Hall Club, The Country Club of Hilton Head, Bear Creek G.C., Palmetto Dunes and Sea Pines Resort, plus lodging at the Hilton Garden Inn.